In Print: Senate takes up credit card surcharges

By ,
February 4, 2013 at 9:51 AM

The Senate Commerce Committee today takes up a swiftly drawn-up bill to stop retailers from exercising their new power to add surcharges to credit card transactions. Visa and MasterCard last week began allowing retailers to add surcharges in order to offset the “swipe fees” credit card companies charge them. But lawmakers quickly introduced, S-2533, a bill to ban the surcharges, arguing they’d be unfair to customers.

The Senate Commerce Committee today takes up a swiftly drawn-up bill to stop retailers from exercising their new power to add surcharges to credit card transactions. Visa and MasterCard last week began allowing retailers to add surcharges in order to offset the “swipe fees” credit card companies charge them. But lawmakers quickly introduced, S-2533, a bill to ban the surcharges, arguing they’d be unfair to customers.

In this week’s State Street, New Jersey Retail Merchants Association John Holub says the bill’s an unnecessary overreaction.

(Here's a link to the bill's page on the state Legislature's website. However, in one sign of the bill's quick movement, the text of the proposal isn't yet online.)

In this week’s Grapevine, Super Bowl XLVIII officials note that preparations for New Jersey’s Super Bowl come at the same time the state and the National Football League are doing legal battle over the Garden State’s sports betting law. For now, sources tell Grapevine, the parties are treating the Super Bowl and the sports betting case as two separate matters, though it’s unknown whether it will affect New Jersey’s chances to host future Super Bowls.

Meanwhile, Grapevine’s hot on the hospital deal trail again, with news that one transaction may be announced soon, which another potential partnership seems to be wide open despite a near-deal five months ago.